Published date: 29 October 2020

Aviation Security (Avsec) officers have gone the extra mile to help a guest staying in one of Auckland’s managed isolation facilities. 

One of the recent guests at the facility is a first-time mum and was caring for her baby alone in isolation.

To give her a break, Avsec officers stepped in to provide their own form of Daddy Day Care service while colleagues ensured security requirements were met.

The officers took the young child for walks around the facility, while in full PPE of course so their mother could get some rest

The impact of COVID-19 on New Zealand's aviation sector meant Avsec officers have been performing a range of different duties in recent months.

Initially this included high visibility reassurance patrols with police and continues to involve providing security at managed isolation facilities as people return to New Zealand and go through the mandatory 14-day isolation period.

Over 200 staff are still working on the frontline at these facilities, utilising their specialised customer service skills to assist in various ways including guest interviews, data collection, walking bus providing daily exercise to guests, security assurance and facility perimeter patrols.

Staff working in these facilities have been working at Level 4 for more than 200 days, which means some have made sacrifices like being unable to hug their own grandchildren or elderly parents. It has totally transformed what Avsec do and many staff have taken on more responsibility.

Domestic aviation traffic is back to 95% of pre-COVID figures, meaning Avsec continues to undertake both roles.